Eight years old. Or maybe I was nine, and with the calendar showing it was Hanukkah I was, perhaps as excited as I’ve ever been. Somehow I’d given myself the idea that an electric train set displayed at a local toy store would be one of my eight gifts for the holiday. And I regarded my parents’ warnings— Continue reading →

Meditation. I try to do it daily. It’s supposed to be useful. It’s supposed to clear the mind. It’s supposed to aid the development of focused thinking. It’s supposed to bring the practitioner a sense of peace. It’s supposed to promote healthy breathing. It’s supposed to relax the body.

To friends and acquaintances who complain they’re still suffering from post election stress disorder: Our feelings are shared by many millions of Americans struggling to recover from the horror we experienced when we awoke 11/9 (reverse of 9/11, and just as tragic for our country).

Next Wednesday we may pause to reflect momentarily on what happened on exactly that same date, 75 years ago. Continue reading →

Grandpa used to tell me “Ish fargessen,” a Yiddish expression that means something like “I’ve forgotten” or maybe it’s “I’m forgetful.” I may be translating this as poorly as I’ve spelled it. Anyway, here’s the idea: Continue reading →

How can I be looking on the rosy side of what would be an absolute disaster for the country? For the world?

Actually, I’m not the only person from the progressive school of thought—not the only “rational” to whom this thought has occurred. I’ve heard it expressed by other people who’ve given this some consideration.

This idea arises out of the frustration—maybe desperation is more accurate—of conscious Americans who recognize the lunacy in our political system is a symptom, not a cause of this country’s disease. Not all conscious Americans, but a few us are entertaining the idea that this might be the timeContinue reading →